Dental cleaning pad



March 1954 H. e. DIVELEY DENTAL CLEANING PAD Filed May 4, 1948 INVENTORHARRY a. DIVELEY A TTORNE Y Patented Mar. 30, 1 954 DENTAL CLEANING PADHarry G. Diveley, Colorado Springs, 0010., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Twix, Inc., Colorado Springs, 0010., acorporation of 0010- rado Application May 4, 1948, Serial No..24,97 9

3 Claims.

My invention is directed to improvements in dental cleanin pads and hasamong its primary Objects the provision of an inexpensive, disposabledental pad which may be stored for substantial periods of time withoutappreciable degeneration and which incorporates detergent and astringentingredients refreshin to the mouth.

Other objects include the provision of novel processes for theproduction of my pad, as well as for the preparationand application ofimpregnating reagents.

. Referring tothe drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a pad embodying the subject matter of my invention,the pad as shown in this figure being sealed in a transparent cellophaneenvelope.

Figure 2 illustrates a similar pad, without the cellophane envelope, inwhich the desired irregular surface is of a somewhat different design.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating how the pad is made of aplurality of plies.

In the drawings reference character it designate a sheet of paper whichis corrugated, embossed or otherwise formed as at H, to provide anirregular surface. As shown by reference character [3, in Figure 3, aplurality of the sheets I 0 are superimposed, one upon the other, toform a pad consisting of any desired number of plies, preferably notless than two nor more than twelve plies, eight usually being the mostsatisfactory. The individual sheets of this pad, which is intended to beemployed as a unit, and then discarded after one use, may be boundtogether at one edge, if desired, or they may be kept separate.impregnated as hereinafter described, are preferably sealed in asuitable container such as a cellophane envelope as indicated byreference character M in Figure 1. The dimensions of the pad should besuch that it may be placed around the finger without unfolding and thusused to vigorously massage the teeth and gums. A square, approximatelytwo inches on each side, has been found suitable for this purpose.

The paper employed in forming my pad should be of an absorbent nature,such as the paper conventionally employed for the manufacture of papertable napkins, and containing only relatively minor quantities of size.An absorbent high wet strength paper, such as the paper employed in 1the production of paper towels, is also highly satisfactory and is insome instances preferable to the relatively low Wet strength paperpreviously mentioned, since the tendency to tear while in use issubstantially reduced.

In either event the sheets, after being I prefer to purchase this paperin the form of rolls or sheets which I impregnate by dipping,

4 ounces oil of peppermint 36 ounces ethyl alcohol drops menthol 9ounces detergent solution 18 ounces aqueous astringent The detergentsolution above mentioned is essentially similar to conventional liquiddentifrices which include, in general, a small percentage of a non-toxicsurface active compound such as sodium lauryl sulphonate or laurylglycerol sulphate, alcohol, water, a thickening agent, and if desired asmall percentage of a soft colloidally suspended abrasive, such as chalkor anhydrite. The aqueous astringent may include a quantity of zincchloride dissolved in water and mixed with a small quantity offormaldehyde and alcohol. Commercially available dentifrices andastringents of the type above described may be employed withoutdifficulty provided that excessive quantities of th ingredients do notbecome insoluble upon mixing with each other. The composition abovedescribed will form a minor quantity of insoluble precipitate when thealcohol is added to the mixture, as certain of the ingredients arerelatively insoluble in alcohol; but since the quantity of precipitateis relatively minor, it may be removed by filtration and the resultingclear solution utilized without difliculty.

The ingredients are ordinarily mixed by agitation in'a suitable vesseland stored out of contact with air prior to application to the paper.After the paper has been impregnated, it must be dried at relatively lowtemperatures, preferably at a room temperature on the order of 75-80 F.A blast of air, preferably of low humidity, is advantageous in thedrying process, provided that the temperature of the air does not exceedthe range specified. If attempt is made to apply heat in the dryingprocess a substantial reduction in the value of the final product willoccur, since several of the ingredients in the impregnating solution arerelatively volatile even in solid form, as well as being subject tooxidation.

In order to preserve the desirable detergent and. astringent propertiesof the dried pad it is necessary to package the pad in such manner, asto substantially inhibit the oxidation or volatization of theingredients. As heretofore pointed out, this is best accomplished byenveloping the pad in a cellophone container l4 suitably sealed againstthe passage of air. When so packaged I have found that my pad may becarried in a pocket or bag for substantial periods of time withouteither soiling or rendering less eificient the active ingredients.

When: application of the pad is required, the: user breaks the seal ofthe package, removes the pad from the container and wraps it around the;index finger. The pad is then inserted in the mouth and brushedvigorously against the teeth. The saliva partially dissolvesthe,compound& dc,- posited in the paper by impregnation, which be; comeactive in the mouth both as detergents; and astringents. The embossed.surface of the paper, although soft, provides sufficient, irregularityto, serve as an efiicient scrubbing surface against the teeth. When theapplication has been;completed the pad is discarded; thus making theprod- HCIJ highly desirable. for travelers and the like when, access tothe customary cleaning equip: ment. is, inconvenient.

Lhave described in detail. a preferred embodiment of my invention, but Ido not, bind myself to the. details therein disclosed except insofar asdefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dental pad for; use in cleaning the teeth and gums comprising asheet of soft absorbent paper having: an, embossed surface andimpregnated with av liquid consisting of flavoring, a detergent and anastringent solution.

2. A dental pad for use in cleaning the teeth and gums comprising a padhaving not less than two nor more than twelve plies of soft absorbentembossed paper, said plies being impregnated with the dried reactionproduct of a liquid incorporating a flavoring oil, an astringent, and adetergent.

3. Adental pad for cleaning 13116 11661 and gums comprising a foldedpad-; of; soft, absorbent embossed paper containing the dried reactionprod- 16, not of a liquid mixture including oil of peppermint, alcohol,water, a non-toxic wetting agent, and zincchloride.

7 HARRY G. DIVELEY.

References; Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 1,143,614 Criswell June 22, 1915 1,201,440 ChristenOct. 17, 1916 1,435,498 Resnik Nov. 14, 1922 1 ,446,836 Crupain-Feb-27,1923 1,452,363 Crupa-in- Apr. 17-, 1923- l ,488-,09.'7 CregerMar. 25', 1924 1, 30,459 Carmichael -1 Mar. 17, 1925 1,54 $2.58- v lioi*enz June 2, 1925 1,577,406? Friedman Mar. 16, 192

1,967,937 *Horwitt 1 July ,2 :I 34. 2,155,731 Mitchell /Ap'li 25, 19392,183,711 De Witt Dec. 19', 1939: 2,211,369, .Durgiri L Aug; 13, 1 9402,419,896 fieblmann Apr. 29, 1947 2,526,076 Jones Oct. 17-, 1950

